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Unit 6: Public Libraries

Popular, because of the functions they perform. They play a very significant role in the welfare Notes
of a society. The purpose of this unit is to enable the students to comprehend basic expressions.
At the end of this unit, you should be able to understand the concept, purpose, elements and
functions of Public Library.

6.1 Concept of Public Library

A public library is a library that is accessible by the general public and is generally funded from
public sources (such as taxes) and operated by civil servants. Public libraries exist in many
countries across the world and are often considered an essential part of having an educated and
literate population. Public libraries are distinct from research libraries, school libraries, and
other special libraries in that their mandate is to serve the general public’s information needs
(rather than the needs of a particular school, institution, or research population).
Public libraries also provide free services such as preschool story times to encourage early
literacy, quiet study and work areas for students and professionals, or book clubs to encourage
appreciation of literature in adults. Public libraries typically allow users to take books and other
materials off the premises temporarily; they also have non-circulating reference collections and
provide computer and Internet access to patrons.
Public library has been defined differently by different experts depending upon the importance
they gave to its objectives. It was a People’s University for those who laid stress on educative
aspect; it was a common man’s cultural centre for those who had in mind its recreational role; for
some it was a centre to provide authentic information for various aspects of life.

6.1.1 UNESCO’s Definition

A public library is an entity that is established under state enabling laws or regulators to serve
a community, district, or region, and that provides at least the following:
an organized collection of printed or other library materials, or a combination thereof;
paid staff;

an established schedule in which services of the staff are available to the public;
the facilities necessary to support such a collection, staff, and schedule; and
is supported in whole or in part with public funds.
However, the most widely accepted definition of a public library was formulated by UNESCO
in 1949, which was revised in 1972 and again revised in 1994, and is known as the UNESCO
Public Library Manifesto. The definition of a public library according to this manifesto is as
follows:
it is a public library which being the local gateway to knowledge, provides a basic condition
for lifelong learning, independent decision-making and cultural development of the
individual and social groups;
a living force for education, culture and information, an essential agent for the fostering of
peace and spiritual welfare through the minds of men and women;
the local centre of information, making all kinds of knowledge and information readily
and freely available to its users;

accessible for all, regardless of age, race, sex, relation, nationality, language or social
status; and

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 99